The one that looks like a bundle of ribbons has a body that is pale greyish-green, with flattened, branching ribbons that rise from the bark like a small shrub. The branches are flat and strap-like, not round like other fruticose lichens. They are often twisted or curled, catching the light and the air. It is the lichen of the ribbon bush, the one that looks like it is waving in the wind, the one that makes the tree look like it is wearing a tiny green wig. What makes it special is the shape. The ramalina branch lichen is a fruticose lichen, meaning it grows upright, like a tiny shrub, but with flattened, ribbon-like branches. The branches are 2 to 5 centimetres tall, often clustered together in dense tufts. They are pale greyish-green, sometimes with a hint of yellow or brown. The tips of the branches are often split or frayed, like the end of a worn ribbon. It is the lichen of the flattened branch, the one that looks like it was pressed by a giant thumb, the one that is both delicate and tough. The branches are stiff and brittle, not flexible like Usnea. They snap when bent, with a clean break. The surface is smooth and shiny, often covered in tiny, white spots (pseudocyphellae) that help the lichen breathe. Under a hand lens, the white spots are visible, tiny pores scattered across the surface of the branches. Biologically, the ramalina branch lichen is a partnership, a fungus and an alga living together. The fungus provides structure and protection. The alga provides food through photosynthesis. The flattened shape of the branches increases the surface area for photosynthesis, allowing the lichen to capture more light. To find ramalina branch lichen is to find the tiny ribbon bush on the bark. It is pale, branching, and ribbon-like, a miniature shrub on the tree. You can run your finger over the flattened branches and feel the smooth, shiny surface. It is the lichen of the ribbon bush, the one that catches the light and the air, the one that proves that the most interesting shapes are often the simplest.